Kings fire coach Westphal

NBA

POSTEDJanuary 5, 2012 11:24 p.m.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — If the Sacramento Kings stood any chance at success this season, Paul Westphal had to find a way to control talented but volatile center DeMarcus Cousins.He couldn’t — and lost his job because of it.The Kings fired Westphal Thursday after two-plus seasons as coach, cutting ties amid a slow start and an escalating dispute with Cousins that threatened to consume the locker room. Assistant Keith Smart, let go by the Golden State Warriors in April after one season at the helm, signed a deal to become the team’s new head coach.